Water cooler



April 5, 1938 c. s. KNIGHT WATER COOLER Filed Nov. 23, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l .April 5, 1938- c. s. KNIGHT 2,113,483

WATER COOLER Filed Nov. 2s, 1954 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Apr. 5, 1938 UNITED STATES rA'raN'r oFFlcE 1 17 claims.

The present invention relates to water coolers and more particularly to those for cooling water before it passes to a drinking fountain.

An object of the invention is to provide a water cooler particularly adapted for use in office buildings, although it may be used in any capacity where cooled drinking water is desirable.

Another object is the provision of a cooler so designed that solidified carbon dioxide or dry ice may be economically utilized as the refrigerant.

A further object is to provide a water cooler that is simple in construction, and which may be easily and quickly charged with refrigerant and operated with minimum attention.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will now be more fully described,

- reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the preferred embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical section thereof;

Figure 3 is a detail of the means for securing the feeding device to its shaft;

Figure 4 is a side elevation partly in section of a modified form of my invention;

Figure 5 is a detail View of the closure plate used in the form shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is another modification showing the use of a filter in connection with the water reservoir;

Figure 7 is an end view thereof; and

Figure 8 is another modification showing the use of a filter positioned below the water reservoir.

Referring to Figures i and 2, there is illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention in which the numeral l designates a water cooler comprising a water reservoir ll having an inlet l2 in its base and an outlet i3 in its top wall leading to a drinking fountain i4. The upper wall l of the reservoir is provided with an opening i6 through which is inserted the lower portion or section ll of a refrigerant receptacle it.

The refrigerant receptacle is also provided with a section projecting above the Wall l5 of the reservoir and constituting a storage compartment I9. This compartment is separated from the inner or lower compartment il by means of a feeding device which also constitutes a partition between the two compartments. While different types of feeding devices may be utilized, I prefer the one disclosed in the drawings. This comprises a sphere or ball 2i having a roughened surface and mounted for rotary movement Within the refrigerant receptacle above the wall l5 of the reservoir. 'Ihe means for rotating the feeding device 20 comprises a. rod or shaft 22. passing through the center of the ball and secured thereto by a machine screw 23. The ends of the shaft 22 are journalled in opposite walls of the refrigerant receptacle and one end thereof is extended and projects through a suitable packing box 24. This shaft end comprises a crank or handle 2l which upon rotary movement actuates the feeding device for apurpose to be hereinafter described.

In each embodiment of my invention I form the refrigerant receptacle into two separate sections'or compartments. The lower compartment Il extends substantially to the bottom wall of the reservoir l I and is flxedly secured thereto with its upper edge turned outwardly to form a flange 26. This flange rests upon the outside of the top wall I5 of the reservoir and may be secured thereto in any suitable manner. For purposes of convenience, the upper and lower compartments are of cylindrical formation, with the upper compartment being of a diameter slightly less than that of the lower one to permit the lower portion 2l of the upper compartment to be inserted within the lower compartment-*Irl/l The upper compartment is provided with an/nnular flange 28 positioned above its lower extremity and this flange contacts with the flange 26 and rests thereupon when the refrigerant receptacle is assembled. This constitutes a very satisfactory form of slip joint which effectively seals the refrigerant receptacle from the atmosphere. It is to be understood that the lower compartment Il is entirely sealed and out of communication with the interior of the reservoir I i.

The purpose of detachably connecting the upper or refrigerant storage compartment to the lower section i1 is to permit a preliminary charge of the refrigerant, which preferably is a disc or wafer of solidified carbon dioxide or dry ice, to be inserted in the lower section Il. 'I'his is to preliminarily cool the water contained in the reservoir li. The storage compartment i9 is packed with dry ice and after the preliminary charge has suillciently cooled the water in the reservoir, it is merely necessary for anyone who desires to use the drinking fountain Il to rotate the handle several revolutions. This will rotate the feeding device 20, which, by reason of the roughened surface, will chip off particles of the dry ice in the storage compartment and permit them to drop by gravity to the lower section il. It will thus be apparent that the water issuing to the drinking fountain I4 may be cooled with a minimum of attention, the only requisite being that a charge of dry ice be inserted in the storage compartment and a. preliminary wafer placed in the lower compartment Ii. While my cooler is designed for universal use, it is particularly adapted for oflice buildings. In this connection, the preliminary charge or Wafer may be inserted in the lower compartment in the morning and thereafter the water in the reservoir will be maintained sufliciently chilled by the transfer of small particles of dry ice from the storage compartment to the lower section' I1.

Preferably, the reservoir is double walled to permit an insulating packing 29 to be secured between the walls. Furthermore, the storage compartment |9 or that portion of the refrigerant receptacle projecting above the reservoir, is also of double wall construction with suitable insulating material 30 packed between the walls. An insulated cover 3| is provided to close the upper end of the refrigerant receptacle.

In order that the dry ice in the storage compartment will at all times contact with the ball 2|, a suitable spring 32 is positioned` in the top of the storage compartment between the cover 3| and the store of dry ice. The upper end of the spring is preferably secured to the cover while the lower end is connected to a plate 32 which, when in position, pressesagainst the dry ice.

Referring to Figure 4, I have illustrated a modification in which the refrigerant receptacle is formed as an integral unit instead of comprising detachable sections as described in connection with Figures 1 and 2. In this form, the water reservoir 33 supports the refrigerant receptacle 34 with the lower section or compartment 35 projecting within the interior of the water re.,- ervoir. The feeding device 36 constitutes a partition for separating the lower compartment from the upper or storage compartment 31 as in tinn other embodiment. In this form of the dev'c^ the refrigerant receptacle is provided with an opening 38 positioned between the upper wall cf' the reservoir and the feeding device 36. The opening is closed by a slide plate 39 having an opening 40 of the same diameter as the inner wall of the receptacle. To permit the easy insertion and removal of the slide plate 39, it provided with an integral handle 4| having o. combined stop and sealing flange 42 which securely closes the opening 38 against the atmosphere.

In use, when it is desired to insert a preliminary charge into the lower compartment 35, it is merely necessary to remove the side plate 3S and slip the dry ice wafer or disc through the opening 38 and then return the slide to the position shown in Figure 4. Thereafter the feeding device is actuated whenever it is desired to use the drinking fountain.

In Figure 6, there is illustrated a combined cooler and lter. In this arrangement, the water reservoir is formed in two sections, one section 43 supporting the refrigerant receptacle 44 and the other section 45 supporting the drinking fountain 46. The walls of both sections are insulated as in the other forms and the inner wall 41 of the section 45 constitutes a filter casing for receiving a substantially dome-shaped filtering element 43 similar to that shown in my copending application Serial No. 725,358, filed May 12, 1934.

The section 43 is provided with a supporting and clamping plate 49 at its open end and when the sections are placed in the position shown in Figure 6, the filtering element is securely clamped between the plate 49 and the casing 41 by means of suitable wing nuts and bolts 50.

With this arrangement, it is apparent that the water entering the reservoir through the inlet 5| is not only cooled by the dry ice in the refrigerant receptacle, but is also filtered before it passes through the outlet 52 to the fountain 46. Furthermore, by reason of having the filter constitute a portion of the water reservoir, there is no chance for the water to become warm before it issues to the fountain. It is further apparent that both the refrigerant receptacle and the filter may be easily and quickly detached with a minimum amount of time and trouble.

In Figure 8, I have illustrated a combined waterv cooler and filter in which the filter casing 53 is positioned below the water reservoir 54. The refrigerant receptacle 55 is similar to that illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

While I have designated my invention as a water cooler and referred to it as such ln the specification and claims, it is to be understood that it may be utilized for cooling varius liquids and that the term water is-used broadly.

I claim- 1. In a water cooler, a water reservoir having inlet and outlet passages, a refrigerant receptacle having a section thereof projecting within said reservoir and out of communication therewith. said receptacle having a section comprising a refrigerant storage compartment disposed exteriorly of the reservoir, and a movable partition between the two sections for controlling the discharge of refrigerant from one to the other.

2. In a. water cooler, a water reservoir having inlet and outlet passages, a refrigerant receptacle supported intermediate its ends by a wall of the reservoir 'and having a section thereof projecting within said reservoir and out of communication therewith, said receptacle having a section comprising a refrigerant storage compartment disposed exteriorly of the reservoir, and a movable partition between the two sections for controlling the discharge of refrigerant from one to the other.

3. In a water cooler, a water reservoir having inlet and outlet passages, a refrigerant receptacle supported intermediateits ends by the top wall of the reservoir and having its lower portion projecting vertically within the reservoir and terminating adjacent the bottom wall thereof, the upper portion of said receptacle comprising a refrigerant storage compartment disposed exterior- 1y of the reservoir, and a movable4 partition between the upper and lower portions of the receptacle for controlling the discharge of refrigerant from one to the other.

4. In a water cooler, a water reservoir having inlet and outlet passages, a refrigerant receptacle having a section thereof projecting within said reservoir and out of communication therewith, said receptacle having a section comprising a refrigerant storage compartment disposed exteriorly of the reservoir, and means carried by said receptacle and controlling the discharge of the refrigerant from the storage compartment to the section thereof positioned Within the reservoir.

5. In a water cooler, a water reservoir having inlet and outlet passages, a refrigerant receptacle having a section thereof projecting within said reservoir and out of communication therewith,`

said receptacle having a section comprising a refrigerant storage compartment disposed exteriorly of the reservoir, and a feeding device positioned within said receptacle and separating the storage compartment from the lower section of the receptacle, said feeding device controlling the discharge of the refrigerant from one compartment to the other.

6. In a water cooler, a water reservoir having inlet and outlet passages, and a refrigerant receptacle supported intermediate its ends by the top wall of the reservoir and having its lower portion projecting vertically within the reservoir and terminating adjacent the bottom wall thereof, the upper portion of said receptacle comprising a refrigerant storage compartmentv disposed exteriorly of the reservoir, and Ya feeding device positioned Within said receptacle'and separating the storage compartment from the lower portion of the receptacle, said feeding device .being operable to remove some of the refrigerant from the storage compartment and permit it to'drop by gravity to the lower portion of the receptacle.

7. In a water cooler, a w'ater reservoir having inlet and outlet passages, a dry ice receptacle supported intermediate its ends by the top wall of the reservoir and having its lower portion projecting within the reservoir and out of communication therewith, the upper portion of said -receptacle comprising a storage compartmentdisposed exteriorly of the reservoir, and a .feeding device positioned within said receptacle and separating the storage compartment from the lowerportion of the receptacle, said feeding device being operable to remove particles of the ice'from the storage compartment and permit vthem to drop by gravity to the lower portion off-the receptacle.

8. In a water cooler, a waterreservoir 4having inlet and outlet passages, a dry ice Vreceptacle supported intermediate its ends by the .top'fwall of -the reservoir and having its lower. portion projecting within the reservoir andout of communication therewith, the upper portion of said receptacle comprising a storage compartment disposed exteriorly of the reservoir,v andazfeedlng device positioned within said receptacle .and separating the storage compartment-.from the lowerV portion of the receptacle,'said feeding device comprising a rotatable memberfha'ving a roughened surface contacting with thedryice in the storage compartment and adapted upon rotary movement to chip off particlesoffthe dry .ice and permit them to drop by gravity-*to the -lower portion of the receptacle. g

9. .In a water cooler, a water reservoir having an inlet in its bottom wall andan outlet in its-top wall, a refrigerant receptacle having a section thereof projecting within said reservoir and out of communication therewith, said'receptacle having a sectionv comprising a refrigerant storage compartment disposed exteriorly of the reservoir,

and a drinking fountain connected to the outlet and supported by the reservoir above the same.

10. In a water cooler, a water reservoir having inlet and outlet passages and provided with an opening in one of its walls, a refrigerant receptacle comprising an inner section mounted in the. opening and extending through the same into the reservoir, an outer section detachably connected to the inner section and constituting a storage compartment for the refrigerant, and means carried by the outer section and controlling the discharge of the refrigerant to the inner section.

.11. In a water cooler, a water reservoir having inlet and outlet passages and provided with an opening in one of its walls. a refrigerant receptacle comprising an inner section mounted in the opening and extending through the same into the reservoir, an outer section detachably connected to the inner section and constituting a storage compartment for the refrigerant, and feeding means carried by one of the sections for controlling the discharge of the refrigerant from the outer section to the inner section.

12. In a water cooler, a water reservoir having inlet and outlet passages and provided with an opening in one ofv its-walls, a refrigerant receptacle comprising an inner section mounted in the opening and extending through the same into the reservoir, an outer section detachably connected to the inner section and constitutingl a storage compartment for the refrigerant, and feeding tacle comprising a. storage compartment dis" posed exteriorly of the reservoir, a. feeding device positioned within said receptacle and separating the storage compartment from the -lower portion of. theY receptacle, said feeding device being operable to remove particles of the dry ice from the storage compartment `and'permit them to dropby gravity to the lower portion of-the receptacle, vsaid receptacle being provided with an opening positioned exteriorly of the reservoir and below the feeding deviceand storage com-v partment for permitting a preliminary charge of dry ice to be placed 'in the lower .portion of the receptacle.

14. In a water cooler, a 4water reservoir hav- .ing inlet and outletpassages, a refrigerant'receptacle having a section thereof projecting within said reservoir and out, of communication therewith, said receptacle having a section comprising a refrigerant storage compartment accessible to the exterior of the reservoir, and a movable par= tition between the two sections.

15. In a water cooler, a water reservoir having inlet 'and outlet passages, a refrigerant receptacle having a section thereof projectingv within. said reservoir and out of communication therewith. A

said receptacle having a section comprisinga refrigerant storage` compartment accessible to the exterior of the reservoir, and means carried by said lreceptacle Vfor controlling the discharge ofg the refrigerant from one section to the other.

16. In a water cooler, a water reservoir formed of two sections, one of which is provided with an inlet passage and the other with an outlet a cooling element mounted in one section in the path of the incoming water, anopen ended filter fitted in the othersection in the pathof the outowing water, and means for clamping the reservoir` sections together and for clamping the marginal edges of the filter between said sections.

17. In a water cooler, a waterreservoir formed of two sections, one of which is provided with an inlet passage and the other with an outlet passage, a refrigerant receptacle mounted in the section provided with the inlet passage and having its inner end in close proximity thereto in the path of the incoming water, an open ended filter tted in and substantially encompassing the interior of said section and communicating with the outlet passage adjacent the inner end of said filter, and means for clamping the reservoir sections together and for clampingfthe marginal edges of the filter between said sections.

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